After having heard their discussion in the infirmary and scampering away before they found her, Sang started to head back to her class before her teacher realized her absence.

Limping through the school corridors she can't keep the smug smile from gracing her lips or the quiet giggles that sometimes slipped. She was having fun! Her plan was going well and she felt a mixture of trepidation and excitement while trying to help these boys. She imagined that it was a bit like what those spies that she often read about felt during their missions. She just hoped the boys didn't get mad with her for interfering and eavesdropping so much...

The sound of flesh hitting flesh as well as grunts and curses drew her attention. Following the sound, Sang soon found herself close to one of the doors that led to the courtyard, the cursing now loud enough that she could easily identify the voice. "You motherfucking whoreson let me the fuck go right now!" Not that it was necessary; just from hearing the creative string of curses she already knew who was in trouble. Geez...

Grabbing hold of the fire extinguisher that was conveniently close by she ran outside, careful to make no sound.

Arriving at the scene she saw a group of five guys, all surrounding Gabriel who was pinned to the wall by one of them, keeping on a brave face even while his eyes betrayed his fear.

"Shut up, you little faggot!" the bully screamed at his face and punched Gabriel in the stomach, causing him to grunt and bend down.

Getting closer to the boys and hiding right behind one of them I shouted "Gabriel!" and directed the tip of the fire extinguisher hose on the bullies when they turned around letting the gas out, blinding them all. Then, with a strength born from a fury at the unfairness of their world, where bullies got away with far too much, she started using the extinguisher as a baseball bat, hitting everything in her path until she reached Gabriel. Letting go of the extinguisher and grabbing him by the arm she began to run, shouting over her shoulder "Next time come play with the girls instead of the boys, cowards!" Oh dear, Owen would probably worry if he knew about this... hum, he better not find out...

Running up the stairs as fast as she could with her short and much bruised legs while towing a boy behind her she went straight into the infirmary hoping to find someone there.

......

Fucking shit! I was just rescued by a fucking girl in fucking pigtails! And she even dared to challenge those motherfuckers before running away! Trouble! She's trouble!

Before I could realize where we were going the girl opened a door and pulled me inside, closing it behind ourselves. As I look around I see that we are at the school infirmary but thankfully I see no doctor.

Turning back to Trouble I see her looking at the boy that is sitting in one of the two chairs in front of the desk. I hadn't really paid attention to him before, but now that I looked I could see that he was tall, maybe a couple of years older than me, and had a very "formal" and "stuffy" style, like Victor and wore glasses like Kota.

Choosing to ignore the dude for now I turned back to Trouble. "Oy, what's your name, Trouble?" Looking at her I notice that her clothes are very old and tattered, her style is a bit "nerdy" but "cute", her hairstyle is okay, but none of it goes with the "kick ass" personality that I just saw. She was a mystery.

Raising her finger to her lips and looking at me with confusion she asked "Trouble?"

"Sure" I told her with my arms crossed in front of my chest. "Any girl that uses a fucking fire extinguisher as a distraction in a group of bullies and then proceeds to use it as a baseball bat to beat the shit out of them to get them out of her way AND as she is running away still DARES to thrown a fucking challenge over her shoulder should be called Trouble." By the time that I am done with my tirade her eyes are big like saucers and she is studiously trying to avoid the look that Stuffy Guy is sending her.

"Eerrr..." is all that she gets out before gulping and quieting again.

The sound of a sigh coming from Stuffy Guy makes me turn around to look at him. He is obviously trying to keep his face blank, but if you look carefully you can see the mix of horror and pride on his face while looking at Trouble. Ok, so they know each other...

Probably sensing that I am looking at him, Stuffy Guy turns his attention at me and stares me down, his eyes penetrating, like he is trying to read my mind or some other shit.

"I see that you've found another stray Miss Sang. Care to present us?" he asks stuffily.

I open my mouth to tell them that I am no fucking stray when Trouble clears her throat nervously and answers "I believe his name is Gabriel Coleman, Owen. I have Art class with him soon, very soon, we should probably get going..."

"Not so fast, Miss Sang." He commanded.

Sighing and looking dejected, Trouble turned back to me, arresting me in place with her pair of deep and shadowed green eyes. "My name is Sang, and this is my friend Owen Blackbourne. We'd like to help you Gabriel, if you will let us." She said simply before walking to the desk and sitting in the chair beside him.

......

I take in a deep breath and tell myself to calm down, I am an Academy member after all and Academy members are problem solvers, so I'll settle this. At least now that Miss Sang is sitting beside me I don't need to worry about her. But messing with a bunch of bullies, alone... this girl is going to give me white hairs...

Turning back to the boy by the door I say, "It's very nice to meet you, Mr. Coleman. You may call me Mr. Blackbourne." And standing up I cross over to him and offer him my hand to shake. Staring at me as if I've grow a second head he takes a minute to respond.

"Fucking shit! He even acts stuffily!" I flinch at the cursing but keep holding out my hand until he finally raises his to mine and we shake them.

Stepping back and walking behind the desk I pull out Dr. Robert's chair and put it beside Sang where I sit down, leaving the other chair, in front of us, open for the boy who still stands where I left him, staring at us warily.

"Come and sit with us, Gabriel. We have a lot to talk about." Sang says, smiling at Gabriel.

Of course we do, darling... starting by your not very subtle efforts of making me help these boys... though she really didn't need to try too hard because I already wanted to do this...

I am surprised that Sean and Dr. Roberts haven't really realized yet that we are all being deftly maneuvered by a little girl in pigtails. Who is obviously enjoying herself if I can go by the slightly smug edge to her smile. I turn in my chair and give her a stern look, letting her know that we will talk later, immediately she looks sheepish and gives a slight nod of her head to show me that she understood.

Taking my attention off the little troublemaker, as Mr. Coleman so aptly nicknamed her, I turn back to see that he was now sitting in front of us and observing our interaction with interest.

"So, you two are close? It looked like you were having a conversation with just a look." He commented, surprising me. Indeed, I had known Miss Sang only for a few days, but already we were communicating like family members.

Thinking of that I simply answered "We are like family."

At the mention of the word "family" he gave a little wince. Beside me, Sang sat up in her chair, more alert.

"Uh, right. So, what is it you want to talk about?" He asks subdued.

"First, I need to know if any of you are in need of medical attention," Before they can answer me I add, "please keep in mind that anything that happens in this infirmary doesn't leave it." They both shake their heads in negative.

"Secondly, I'd like for you to name all of the bullies who were attacking you today." Pulling out a pen a notebook from my pocket I handed both to him and he began writing.

"And what is gonna happen with these boys? You gonna call their fucking parents?" He asked almost sarcastically, while keeping his head down, still writing.

"If you are so worried about what I am going to do why are you still giving me their names?" I ask curiously.

"Well, that is easy. You might not be interested in helping me, God knows you probably don't care, but I bet you are going to help Trouble over there. These guys are going to come after her for challenging them like that." He says as he hands over the notebook and pen back to me.

Nodding in agreement I simply said. "These boys will be handled, for the both of you. I don't believe in bullying and violence Mr. Coleman. Not among kids or among family." His eyes fly to my face and narrow in suspicion.

Taking a chance I add. "It is the reason why I have no parents now. Mine was far too violent and had to be handled." Seeing a spark of curiosity in his eyes I almost smile in satisfaction. One down... five to go... which reminds me...

Turning to face Sang I tell her with my most commanding tone "And you, Miss Sang, will stop meddling in fights. Next time you see something that is bothering you, come to me. Or to Sean. We will solve it." I look at her firmly until she voices her compliance.

"As you wish, Owen." She says, looking me in the eye.

Nodding again I tell them to go back to class, just as the bell rings.

Once they leave the infirmary I pull my phone out of my pocket and call Sean.

"We have a problem." I say once he picks up.

"What's up?" he asks worried.

"Miss Trouble got into a fight with a bunch of bullies. We need to have them handled." I tell him.

"Miss Trouble?" He asks dumbly.

"Sang. Really Sean, did you hear nothing else of what I said." I question him irritated.

"Ooh, that's fitting but it isn't like you to be so creative, Owen." He teases.

"Sean! Focus!" I practically scream.

"Ok! Ok! Relax Owen, I already have a plan for these guys, the bullying in this school has been bothering me for a while now."

"Ok, good. We will discuss this plan of yours later then."

"Okie-dokie! Bye-bye love!"

I disconnect the call without answering.

......

The corridors are full of children as we walk silently to our class. Looking at Gabriel beside me I see he is still lost in though. So am I. Owen dropped a might bomb in that infirmary when he told us about his father. How did he "handle" him?

Gabriel must have been thinking the same thing because suddenly he grabbed arm and spun me around to face him asking. "Oy, do you know what that guy did to his father?"

Looking straight in his eyes I answer him "No, but I intent to find out."

As he looks at me intently his clear blue eyes darken and he starts to curse "Motherfucking shit! Bloody hell, you too?" He asked me.

Nodding my head in unspoken agreement with his question I turned around and started walking again, being careful not to limp. I must not have done a good job in concealing my pain because soon I have a blue eyed boy by my side looking at me worriedly.

"Bad weekend?" He asked quietly.

"You could say that." I answer.

"Yeah, me too. My dad is not a problem anymore, though. A truck made pancake of him a couple of nights ago." He tells me.

Looking at him I see he is got his head down, but as small as I am I can still see his eyes and they are shadowed in guilt and grief.

Reaching out with my hand I grab his and hold on, in a show of support. He looks at me throws me a look and gives my hand a squeeze, and that is how we make the rest of our way to class.

......

The feel of her tiny and warm hand in mine is more of a comfort than anything that I've had in a long time.

Walking back to class, my thoughts which had been full of darkness, death, pain and regret for the last few days suddenly take on a lighter shade.

The little girl walking by my side, deceptively quiet and fragile is a true force of nature and I can already feel my world shaking and breaking with her strength. Studying her appearance all you would see is a delicate little girl, very shy, obviously poor and kind of nerdy. The fact that she'd take on five bullies and win over them is not something you would believe unless you saw it.

I wonder what effect she will have in my friends.

Arriving at the door to our next class I let go of her hand and let her step ahead of me, following her to the back of the class I sit by her side. I don't want to let her go yet. Her presence alone is like a warm blanket, warming me from the inside out, when I was so cold before.

The loss of his dad hadn't really been a big one because he was never much of a father anyway, always drunk, always dangerous. But the reality that he had no family anymore scared him like nothing else in the world. He was alone now, there was no telling if Pam, his father's second wife, would keep him or not. She could throw him out. He wouldn't fault her if she did, he was a burden. Unworthy. Useless.

"Gabriel" The sweet voice calling his name brought him back to present, to light. Looking at her he saw that Sang had scooted closer and joined her table with his.

"The teacher wants us to form pairs to realize this project." At my blank look she continued with her explanation. "It is supposed to be a poem with an illustration." Blushing suddenly she asked. "Do... do you want to do this together?"

Blinking at her in surprise I can't help but ask, "What? You want to do this with me? Why the hell would you want that?"

Cocking her head to the side and looking at me confusedly she answers my question with one of her own, "Why not?" and then completes with the most wonderful, albeit unbelievable, line. "You're amazing, Gabriel."

Scoffing and trying to hide my own blushing I tell her "Right. Of course I am." If only I believed that...

Seeming to sense my insecurities grabs my hand again and squeezes. "It's true!" She smiles at me. "I've seen your drawings before, you are a true artist Gabriel, and I find that completely amazing!"

Blushing from the compliment he ducks his head down and murmurs a quiet "thank you", then raising his head to look her in the eyes he said "I think you are amazing, too."

For a moment time stood still, the boy and the girl looked at each other, both blushing, both without fully understand what they were feeling, but united in the knowledge that the feeling was mutual.

Soon they are working together, having decided on a theme she starts to write the poem while he draws the illustration. Once the project is done they hand it over to the teacher and sit talking quietly waiting for the class to end.

When they part ways after the bell rings he feels as if the sun suddenly left his world.

......

Yes! The bell to recess rang and now I could meet with little Pookie! I had spent a great part of the weekend in the hospital, again. The good part was that I learnt a lot more about flirting with the old birdies that were interned there, and now I could try it out in Pookie! Seeing her face turn tomato red was simply delightful, almost as fun as seeing Owen blushing this morning!

Walking into the courtyard I spotted my best friend sitting by her side under the same three where we first met. Looking around I make sure that her sister is nowhere in sight so that my Pookie can talk with us safely.

Seeing that the coast is clear I head over to them, bypassing a group of five boys, when suddenly I hear her name being mentioned.

"Sang, and she's like us." One of them is saying.

"Are you sure, Gabe?" Asks the one wearing glasses.

"Yeah man, you just gotta look in her eyes and you will see." Responded Gabe.

Hiding behind a pillar that was conveniently placed beside the boys Sean settled down to listen.

"And you want to bring her in on our group?" Asked a redheaded boy who Sean recognized as Nathan. Hummm... so Pookie is made contact...I wonder what she is about...

"Maybe. She is got this friend. Strange dude, very stuffy and formal like, but there is something about him that screams competency. He mentioned having a violent dad until he "handled" him, whatever that means." Stuffy! He called Owen stuffy! This is priceless!

"Huummm... maybe we should investigate a little about them, did you get their names, Gabe?" Asked another boy in very high-priced clothes.

"The guy is called Owen Blackbourne, the girl is Sang. Don't know her surname, she didn't give it."

"You should make background check on them Victor, just to be safe." Said "Glasses" boy.

"I agree. I will see what I find out and get back to your guys."

Huummm... good luck in finding anything on Owen, Sang on the other hand... hummm... I wonder what we should do.